Dhoni scripts massive record in Hamilton

becomes first Indian to play 300 T20 matches
India vs New Zealand (IND vs NZ) 3rd T20I: MS Dhoni became the first Indian to play 300 T20 matches. He is followed by Rohit Sharma who appeared in 298 matches.

Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni on Sunday scripted a massive record in the shortest format of the game as he became the first Indian cricketer to feature in 300 T20 matches. He achieved the milestone during the third and final T20I match between India and New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Overall, he is the joint-12th alongside England's Luke Wright on the list which is topped by West Indies' Keiron Pollard (446 matches). Rohit Sharma is the second Indian on the list with 298 T20 matches which include the Hamilton decider. Out of Dhoni's 300 matches, he played 95 for India, 185 for Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings and the remaining 20 for presently-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants.

He scored 6134 runs his T20 career at an average of 38.57 which includes 24 half-centuries. For India, he scored 1546 runs at 37.7 and in IPL he managed to amass 4016 runs at an impressive average of 40.16 which includes 20 half-centuries.

About the match on Sunday, New Zealand took off to a blazing start with the openers stitching an 80-run stand before 55 more runs were added to the board by the second-wicket partnership. Colin Munro was the wrecker-in-chief for the Indian bowling attack as he scored 72 runs off 40 deliveries laced by 10 boundaries. New Zealand ended with a score of 212 for four.

Against the massive target, India failed to click right from the start. After the early dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay Shankar and Rohit stabilised the innings with a gritty 81-run stand. Even Rishabh Pant provided some hope with his quickfire 28-run knock. But India lost four wickets in four overs in the middle leaving Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya with a herculean task ahead. However, with a flurry of boundaries, they drew some hope before Scott Kuggeleijn denied them with a miracle in his last over. India lost by 4 runs to lose the series 1-2. With the defeat, India's unbeaten streak of winning series after series in the format ended.

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